[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 70 (Thursday, May 19, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3163-S3164]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO CHRIS GRIGSBY

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
incredible endeavors of a hardworking and extremely talented 
Kentuckian, Chris Grigsby of Laurel County, KY. Chris's lifetime of 
experience has taken him to many places, but he has always been proud 
to call Kentucky home.
  Chris Grigsby graduated from Laurel County High School in London, KY. 
At the age of nine he taught himself how to play the guitar, mandolin, 
bass, and the fiddle, and continues to play and teach them to his 
family, stating that music is a major part of his life. After 
graduating high school, Mr. Grigsby enrolled in the Marine Corps.
  Mr. Grigsby's passion for his position in the Marine Corps grew as he 
continued to travel the world and experience the endless opportunities 
that it provided. He was stationed for 2 years at Camp David where he 
was able to work closely with President Ronald Reagan. As his years in 
the Marine Corps came to a close, Grigsby found talent in other 
professions including, auctioning, truck driving, as well as being a 
police and security officer.
  After working as a truck driver for 3 years, then as an officer with 
the London Police Department, as well as conducting his own truck 
hauling service, Grigsby came to realize his true passion was to be 
closer to home with his wife Bobbie and their family of five. As he set 
aside his traveling days he was offered a job at the U.S. Courthouse 
where he continues to be the lead court security officer. This August 
17, Chris and Bobbie will celebrate their 21st marriage anniversary.
  Chris Grigsby is a man who gives so others can prosper, and leads by 
setting an example. His life stands as an illustration that kindness 
does go a long way. A wonderful article about Mr. Chris Grigsby 
appeared recently in the Sentinel Echo, and I ask unanimous consent 
that the full article be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the article was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                 [From the Sentinel Echo, May 2, 2011]

          All That He's Done, His Children Are His Number One

                            (By Sue Minton)

       If gas prices were as high in 1968 as they are today, then 
     2-year-old Chris Grigsby and

[[Page S3164]]

     his family may have been residents of Rockcastle County 
     instead of Laurel County.
       Grigsby likes to joke about how his family came to Laurel 
     County.
       ``They were originally from Perry County. My grandparents 
     and parents were part of the migration north to find jobs in 
     the late 50s and early 60s,'' he said.
       In 1968 his parents decided to come back to Kentucky from 
     Michigan. ``I joke, they were moving back to Hazard and ran 
     out of gas in London and just stayed,'' Grigsby said. ``But 
     they didn't.''
       Before the Pomp and Circumstance of his 1984 graduation 
     played out, Grigsby had joined the Marines. He graduated from 
     Laurel County High School in June and reported to boot camp 
     on Halloween Day.
       He referred to his stay in the Marine Corps as the ``best 
     worst'' thing that has ever happened to him.
       ``It gave me the opportunity to get out and see a little 
     bit of the world,'' he said. ``I always wanted to be a part 
     of something. If I was going to do anything, I wanted to be 
     the best at it that I could. And the Marines have the 
     reputation of being the toughest `the elite.' You join the 
     Army, you join the Navy, but you become a Marine.''
       While at Parris Island in boot camp he was selected for the 
     Yankee White Program.
       ``I was stationed at Marine Barracks `8th and I' in 
     Washington, D.C., the oldest post in the Marine Corps,'' he 
     said. ``While waiting on White House security clearance I got 
     selected to go to the Pentagon. I was there for three months 
     working with Casper Weinberger on a security detail for the 
     secretary of defense,''
       Once Grigsby received his clearance he was stationed at 
     Camp David for two years.
       ``We primarily worked internal security for the camp,'' he 
     said. ``I worked my way up through the ranks to the position 
     of platoon sergeant. And that put me in direct contact with 
     President Ronald Reagan.''
       Grigsby recalls eating lunch with President Reagan once and 
     remembers how nice the event was. ``He was the most wonderful 
     person. There was no faultness to him. Sometimes you meet 
     people and they put on this air of caring, but I felt like he 
     genuinely cared about the people.''
       In 1988 Grigsby was discharged from the Marines and 
     considers himself lucky.
       ``I remember vividly, in 1990 we were in the middle of 
     Operation Desert Shield. My trucking partner and I were going 
     to Union City, Tenn., to get a load of tires for Toyota. We 
     were about Elizabethtown when the radio announced that we 
     were taking fire and that was the start of Desert Storm. I 
     was very fortunate that I got in and out before it began.''
       After his stay in the Marines, Grigsby worked as an 
     auctioneer, long-haul truck driver, police officer and a 
     security officer.
       ``While in the marines I attended auctioneer school and 
     tried my hand at that,'' he said. ``Vernon Holt, a local 
     agent with Century 21, sponsored me to get my apprentice 
     license. I went to California to help a cousin get his 
     auction business started. But I never really pursued it.''
       But, while `trying his hand' at it Grigsby met his wife, 
     Bobbie.
       ``I was working as an auctioneer at the stockyard in 
     Richmond, trying to get my foot in the auctioneer door. She 
     was there with her family buying horses and I met her at the 
     diner, On August 17, we will be married 21 years.''
       When auctioneering didn't work out, Grigsby decided he 
     would like to learn how to drive a tractor-trailer. He went 
     to truck driving school and long-hauled for about three years 
     traveling to any place that was east of Denver, Colo., 
     delivering mostly Toyota parts.
       After being laid off from truck driving, he was hired as an 
     officer for the London Police Department. While there he was 
     one of the first officers to implement the narcotics K-9 
     Unit.
       After leaving the London Police Department he once again 
     decided to truck. This time buying his own vehicle.
       ``I went back on the road for financial opportunities,'' he 
     said, ``hauling whatever needed to go wherever for seven 
     years. My claim is I've hauled everything from asbestos to 
     zucchini.''
       ``I liked seeing the country, but it was difficult for me. 
     By this time we had two of our five children, and we were a 
     close family. It was hard to be gone. There were things at 
     home that needed my attention. In 2002 I got out of the 
     trucking business and went to work at the United States 
     Courthouse.''
       Currently Grigsby is the lead court security officer. He is 
     the supervisor of a crew of men that are special deputies 
     U.S. Marshals. ``We primarily provide security for the 
     courthouse, the judges and visitors.''
       Grigsby said on a couple of occasions they have had some 
     excitement.
       ``We have been fortunate. It is not something that occurs 
     every day. But there is a chance that it could happen,'' he 
     added. ``Security work is not what we do, it is what we can 
     do and what we will do. We put our lives on the line every 
     day. It is kind of like police work, but then it is not. In 
     security you have to be ready to go from zero to all out in a 
     split second. But, I like the job. it has all the 
     necessities--pay is good, home time is good.''
       Grigsby spends some of what spare time he has playing 
     music.
       ``I have played music since I was nine years old,'' he 
     said. ``Music is a major part of my life and my family's 
     lives.''
       Grigsby, a self-taught musician, plays the guitar, fiddle, 
     mandolin and bass. His older children, Emily and Charlie, who 
     have had a few lessons but are taught mostly by their Dad, 
     play several instruments.
       ``And it will just be a matter of time before Sarah and 
     Grace start playing,'' he said. ``They, Emily and Charlie, 
     along with Sarah sing and Grace does some,'' he said. Grigsby 
     and Bobbie also sing. They perform a wide variety of 
     different music, but mostly gospel.
       ``Music has always been a part of my life. Some families 
     play sports--basketball, baseball, cheerleading--we play 
     music. And through our music we have been to Laurel Heights, 
     Laurel Village, and assisted living homes playing and singing 
     for the people. We also play at festivals, schools and our 
     church, Corinth Baptist.''
       Grigsby feels his biggest achievement is his children--
     Emily, Charlie, Sarah, Grace and 10-month-old Danica.
       When the interview was almost over, Grigsby referred to a 
     scene in the movie ``Evan Almighty.''
       ``God contacts Evan to build an ark. There is one part 
     where his wife, Joan, is upset because they are having to 
     leave, and God appears to her and says ``If someone prays for 
     patience, do you think God gives them patience? Or does he 
     give them the opportunity to be patient? That stuck with me. 
     The world would be a much better place if we were kinder to 
     each other. We live in such a traumatic world. If we would 
     just take the time to speak to someone at the store or on the 
     street and just be friendly, that would be the difference. 
     That's what I try to do, just be kind to others.''

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